WASHINGTON—The Trump administration announced a new round of sanctions on Jan. 23 targeting eight tankers accused of helping transport Iranian oil and petroleum products.
The Treasury Department stated that eight vessels linked to the entities have been designated as blocked property, effectively barring them from operating within the U.S. financial system.
The move comes amid ongoing protests and unrest in Iran, as pressure mounts on the country’s leadership over economic conditions and political repression. U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened military action against Iran and said “a big force” of U.S. naval ships is heading in the country’s direction.
“The Iranian regime is engaged in a ritual of economic self-immolation—a process that has been accelerated by President Trump’s maximum pressure campaign,” Bessent said. “Tehran’s decision to support terrorists over its own people has caused Iran’s currency and living conditions to be in free fall. Today’s sanctions target a critical component of how Iran generates the funds used to repress its own people.”
Among the sanctioned entities is United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based Horizon Harvest Shipping, whose Palau-flagged vessel Sea Bird allegedly transported hundreds of thousands of barrels of Iranian liquefied petroleum gas to destinations including the UAE, East Asia, and Djibouti.
India-based Aayat Ship Management Private Ltd. was sanctioned for its Comoros-flagged vessel Avon, which Treasury officials said facilitated multiple shipments of Iranian liquefied petroleum gas to Pakistan and Bangladesh in 2025.
Also sanctioned was Oman-backed Black Stone Oil and Gas, operator of the Palau-flagged Al Diab II, which allegedly transported multiple shipments of Iranian liquefied petroleum gas to Somalia and Pakistan during the same period.
Seychelles-based Galeran Service Corp. was designated for owning the Palau-flagged Cesaria, which has allegedly delivered millions of barrels of Iranian crude oil to East Asia since late 2025.
The Treasury Department also sanctioned Longevity Shipping, based in the Marshall Islands, for owning and managing the vessel Longevity 7. Officials said the ship has transported hundreds of thousands of barrels of Iranian clean condensate via ship-to-ship transfers and has been part of Iran’s so-called shadow fleet since at least 2020.
Odyssey Marine, another Marshall Islands-based company, was sanctioned for allegedly facilitating shipments of Iranian high-sulfur fuel oil since 2025 through its Palau-flagged vessel Eastern Hero.
Liberia-based Benoil Shipping was also targeted for allegedly transporting hundreds of thousands of barrels of Iranian petroleum products, including liquefied petroleum gas, to Pakistan and other destinations since 2025. It owns the Panama-flagged Aqua Spirit.
Completing the list is Trade Bridge Global, based in the Marshall Islands, which Treasury officials said owns and operates the Comoros-flagged vessels Chiron 5 and Keel. The ships allegedly transported hundreds of thousands of barrels of Iranian liquid hydrocarbons since 2025.
